“Incomplete people make good consumers.”
So says John Taylor Gatto, former Teacher of the Year for the state of New York and homeschooling advocate.
I think Gatto’s statement is worth consideration. After all, why buy anything if you have everything you need… if you are “complete?” Clearly, the more incomplete we are, the more we will buy to attempt to complete ourselves. We may even go into debt to do so.
I don’t think it’s possible to ever be totally complete in this life. Everybody, no matter their personal beliefs, has come face to face with what I call “the nameless need.” This need can only be filled by God.
Nevertheless, I like to evaluate my buying decisions by asking, “What void am I trying to fill with this purchase?” This self-reflection helps me make a better decision.
Perhaps I discover I am buying something because of vanity. I want to make myself look better in the eyes of men and women. Or perhaps I am buying something out of the fear of death. I want to protect myself and lengthen my life. Or perhaps I am buying something because I’m lazy. I’m tired of housework, so I indulge in conveniences to lighten the load.
There are dozens of reasons we buy things. The key is to spend some time in self-reflection before you fork over your hard-earned money… and before you go into debt to acquire something.
- Why are you buying a particular item?
- What void are you trying to fill?
- Does this void have to be filled by purchasing something?
- Is there a better way?
This may seem like too much mental work. But I believe it is worth doing. By acknowledging the hidden reason behind why you’re buying something, you can prevent (or at least minimize) making foolish decisions. Hopefully, you can also prevent yourself from falling into debt or going further into debt.
In what ways do you find you are “incomplete?” How do these voids influence your buying decisions?
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Fantastic post … I think Mr. Gatto’s statement applies to many people, especially people that live beyond their means. But an example of an “incomplete” person is my father-in-law. He makes a substantial income, but cannot spend it fast enough. Always trying to fill that hole deep inside of him. Cars, electronics, antiques, tools … literally hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stuff. And he is never satisfied. Usually ends up getting rid of the stuff and sometimes at a loss. He’s a good guy too … just a very successful guy with very low self-esteem. Interesting post … thanks!
Hey Dawn – Thank you. I think almost every family has a chronic spender… somebody who is trying to complete themselves through the things they buy. I can think of more than one off the top of my head. I think we are all susceptible to this behavior; we must stay vigilant.
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